Chapter 750 Selfishness
Although Song Jinxiu had never led an army in battle, he understood the consequences of stalling Beiling's offensive and prolonging the war. Beiling, relying on the "lack" of military resources and supplies after the Wei civil war, had marched south with practically the entire nation's might. If they were defeated, they might be counterattacked by the Wei...
Then there is really no chance of recovery.
Zhang Bin's face paled as he listened to Song Jinxiu's words. He murmured, "How could it be so serious?" He seemed frightened and looked at Song Jinxiu hesitantly. "You must tell the Imperial Master and the others about the merchant ship. If we don't prepare early, it will be really troublesome."
Song Jinxiu: "I have to tell you, but it can't be Xia Hou Ling."
The man didn't trust him at all and never told him any secrets.
If he suddenly brought up the Wei Dynasty's mobilization of merchant ships, he would not only be unable to explain how he knew that Xiahou Ling had joined forces with Southern Qi, but also would not be able to explain what happened when he eavesdropped tonight. Moreover, if he wanted to climb up in Beiling, he could not always rely on Xiahou Ling's influence and depend on the National Master's Mansion.
Xia Hou Ling is cruel and ruthless, and there is a high probability that he will betray his friends in the future. He must have someone to rely on.
Zhang Bing seemed to have no idea what he was thinking and said anxiously, "But you are now a member of the Imperial Master's Mansion. If you deliberately conceal such a serious matter, the Imperial Master will never let you go once he finds out."
He looked terrified:
"Everyone in Beiling knows the methods of the Imperial Master. Jin Xiu, you suffered so much and finally made it through to the Imperial Master's Mansion. If he finds out about your betrayal, he won't forgive you."
"If he doesn't forgive me, he has to solve his own problems first."
When Song Jinxiu heard the words "suffering a lot", he remembered how he was humiliated by Xiahou Ling when he first came to Beiling, and his face was gloomy.
"He was previously plotted against by Ji Rongqing and his men, and lost the Khan's trust. The Khan has been paying attention to him recently because after the Great Wei wiped out the Beiling spies, only Xiahou Ling still had an informant in the Great Wei capital."
"He frequently used that person to pass on information and arrange Beiling's military. Even Zhaozhou suffered a great loss because that spy's subordinates passed on a new border defense layout and took advantage of the momentum laid by Ji Rongqing and his men earlier."
"The Khan has re-employed him for this reason, and to curb the Zong Yu tribe and Princess Chu Yun and the others, he gave him the command this time. But if the Khan knew that his informant in Wei had made a mistake, and the news that spread almost brought Beiling to ruin, do you think the Khan would still trust him?"
Song Jinxiu recalled that when they were at the Imperial Master's Mansion, Xiahou Ling had said that keeping him was like raising a dog, and his face turned cold as he sneered.
"Ming Ke, the pioneer of the chariots used by those in high positions, gave his informant this name. Does he really think of himself as the second king of Beiling?"
People mocked him as a dog, but wasn't Xiahou Ling also a dog?
The nobles of the Southern Qi Dynasty who fled to Beiling were no different from dogs that had lost their homes.
Zhang Bin frowned, "But..."
"There's nothing to worry about." Song Jinxiu looked up at Zhang Bing and said, "Don't worry, Brother Zhang. I have my own plans for this matter, and I won't put myself in danger. But you, please don't tell anyone else what I said tonight, or you'll get into trouble."
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Zhang Bing couldn't persuade him any further. He just nodded and said, "You know I'm a tight-lipped person."
Song Jinxiu smiled. The man in front of him was indeed tight-lipped, otherwise he would not have been able to protect him all the way to escape from Wei.
Song Jinxiu picked up some food with his serving chopsticks and put it in his bowl: "You've been talking for a long time, eat quickly, or it will get cold."
Seeing Zhang Bing pick up his chopsticks again, he said:
"Brother Zhang shouldn't leave this time, right?"
Zhang Bin was helpless. "I'd like to leave, but how can I dare to do so in this situation? Beiling and Great Wei might start fighting any day. I definitely can't go to the Wei Dynasty. However, I met some people from the Thirteen Scattered Tribes on my way back. I could go over there and spend some time with them. They have some good stuff on hand that should fetch a good price."
Song Jinxiu warned: "The war is imminent and everything is in chaos. You should be careful when doing business. If you really can't make it, stay in the Imperial City. You won't be short of the silver."
Zhang Bing laughed. "Of course, this guy needs money. Don't worry about me. I've been in this business for more than a year or two, so I naturally know what's important. But you, on the other hand, I see that they've kept such a big deal as the National Master's alliance with Southern Qi a secret from you. I'm afraid they don't have good intentions towards you."
"And that Prince Consort Ji you mentioned before? I went to the border town on my business trip this time, but I didn't find any clues. The Ji family's background is clean and there's nothing wrong with it. The fact that Ji Rongqing met the Queen and the others was just a coincidence..."
Song Jinxiu pursed his lips and said, "Don't investigate this matter anymore."
"Ah?" Zhang Bing looked at him. "But didn't you say he was from a noble family of the Wei Dynasty?"
Song Jinxiu's expression was cold: "He is from an aristocratic family. I will never admit my mistake. It's just that I underestimated his methods."
"People from the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion have already investigated his background. Even the Khan and the Queen have probably sent people. If he could have hidden it from so many people, how could he have revealed his tracks so easily? I was too anxious before."
He arrived at Beiling in a panic and was suddenly confused when he saw his "old friend".
Unlike Tang Ning and Xiao Yan, whose revenge on him had reasons, although he was in trouble because of them, he didn't know whether he should resent them. The sudden betrayal of Lu Zhinian and his long-time friend made Song Jinxiu even more "unforgettable". Song Jinxiu had been close to the Lu family since he was young, helping Lu Zhinian, never hiding anything from him and treating him as a close friend.
He had never done anything wrong to Lu Zhinian, so he was particularly disgusted with his betrayal.
Song Jinxiu said, "He's now the consort of the Zong Yu tribe, deeply trusted by the Queen and Princess Chu Yun, and a man who can rival Xia Hou Ling. If I continue to dwell on his past identity without providing any concrete evidence, it will only lead to gossip and make the Khan dislike me."
The most important thing he should do now is to try every possible means to climb up. As long as he stands high enough and has enough power, even if Ji Rongqing is not Lu Zhinian, he is.
Song Jinxiu said to Zhang Bin, "Ji Rongqing is very powerful now, and Princess Chuyun is very protective of him. If they knew you were investigating him, it would be bad for you. Brother Zhang, please don't interfere in this matter from now on."
Zhang Bin nodded: "I'll listen to you."
As the night deepened, the snow outside became heavier. After the two finished their meal and chatted about their recent situation, Zhang Bing said goodbye and returned home.
Song Jinxiu personally escorted the person out. Just as he arrived at the gate of the mansion, he saw someone riding a horse galloping past. As the carriage churned across the road ahead, he could vaguely hear a commotion inside.
Zhang Bing was curious: "What's going on in the middle of the night?"
Song Jinxiu laughed: "Prince Consort Ji has a headache, and Princess Chuyun is looking for a doctor all over the city."
Zhang Bing was shocked. "This princess's mansion always has this kind of trouble. I don't know what's wrong with Ji Rongqing..."
He shook his head and tutted as someone drove over. Zhang Bing turned to Song Jinxiu and said,
"Okay, my car is here. You should hurry in too. It's so cold outside. Don't catch a cold."
"Brother Zhang, take care and come over when you have time."
Zhang Bing smiled and said, "I'll definitely come."
After the two said goodbye, Zhang Bing got into the carriage directly. He waved through the curtain to let Song Jinxiu into the mansion, and then the carriage drove away.
The driver outside suddenly said, "Looking at you like this, someone who didn't know you would think you and Song Jinxiu were brothers of the opposite sex."
"Bah, can't you expect anything from me?" Zhang Bing threw the curtain aside and rolled his eyes. "If I don't have a good relationship with him, how can I trick him into doing things under Xia Hou Ling? Besides, I got a lot of information from him today."
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